Saint Paul, MN to New York Mills, MN is 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 29m via US 10 and I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll experience a familiar Midwest landscape as you head northwest. Consider this route if you need a quick, uncomplicated trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.3 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
141.3 mi
2h 44m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
I 94
6 mi
6m
I 35E
4.9 mi
6m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
East Centennial 84 Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Pine Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 141.3 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,330 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,983
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and New York Mills, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
0.3 mi·1 min·Wabasha Street North
2
Turn right onto MN 5
0.2 mi·44 sec·7th Street East
3
Turn left onto Robert Street North
0.2 mi·40 sec·Robert Street North
4
Turn right onto 11th Street East
451 ft·17 sec·11th Street East
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
6
Continue on I 35E
4.9 mi·6 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 10
Exit 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 10
19 mi·22 min·US 10
Exit 113Toward I 694 West, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I-94 W
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi·6 min·I 94
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
12
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi·2 min·Pine Street
13
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi·19 sec·State Highway 25
14
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi·53 sec·County Road 11
15
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
16
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
17
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 10
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
38 mi·42 min·US 10
19
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi·9 min·US 10; MN 210
20
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi·12 min·US 10; IC A
21
Turn slight right
67 ft·2 sec
22
Enter roundabout
100 ft·1 sec
23
Continue
96 ft·1 sec
24
Turn straight onto US 10
11 mi·12 min·US 10
25
Turn left onto CH 84
1.1 mi·2 min·East Centennial 84 Drive
26
Arrive at destination
CH 67; 84
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 29m duration, leaving Saint Paul in the morning should allow you to reach New York Mills with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a relatively short, single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule. Keep an eye on US 10 for the longest continuous stretch to gauge your progress.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.3 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York Mills, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Paul, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Paul, MN
This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 141.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 164.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Robert Street North
Turn left onto Robert Street North
Navigation decision point
7
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
5
6.2 mi into trip|~9m in|US 10
Continue onto US 10 toward I 694 West, US 10 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113
Toward I 694 West, US 10 West
6
164.8 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.71 one way
$59.42 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$32.00
$63.99
premium
$5.04
$35.01
$70.03
diesel
$5.64
$39.21
$78.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.54
$8.48
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.45
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.72
$11.30
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 10, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Evening
in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
7:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:26AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 3:37AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
New York Mills, MN
Evening
in New York Mills on Friday
Local time
7:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
NNW 8 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:26AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 3:37AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 96% of the 176.6 miles utilizing them. You'll cover a substantial 141.3 miles on US 10, experiencing continuous cruising before transitioning to I-94 W. With such a high highway share, expect a consistent pace and relatively few interruptions until you near your destination. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur in the final few miles.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.3 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I-94 W. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Robert Street North.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Saint Paul (or St. Paul) is the capital city and the second largest city of the US state of Minnesota. Along with the slightly larger Minneapolis it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolis in the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Minnesota State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Minnesota
•Cathedral of Saint Paul, National Shrine of the Apostle Paul — cathedral in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
•Saint Paul Union Depot — train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 176.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.3 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New York Mills, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at New York Mills, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
